Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Quick Change Tonight On Race Talk Radio!

Every Wednesday night the hottest topics in NASCAR racing are discussed on “QUICK CHANGE” at 8pm Eastern. Join “ARCA THUNDER” host Mike Harper, “CARGO LIGHT REVIEW” host Lori Munro, and “Doin’ Donuts” co-host Dennis Michelsen and see if you agree with their views! Comments f ... Continue reading

New Ad Campaign Heralds Arrival of 'The Other MINI'

Butler Shine Stern & Partners crafts campaign for new MINI Clubman WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Feb. 20 -- MINI zigged when it launched the hardtop model in 2002 and zagged with the convertible in 2004. So what does MINI do when it's already zigged and zagged? Easy, MINI zugs with the arrival of the all-new 2008 MINI Clubman. ... Continue reading

US Hybrid Licenses the Patented PECOS Parallel Hybrid Powertrain Design

NEW YORK--US Hybrid Corporation announced today that it has received a license to use and commercialize the Southwest Research Institute’s (SwRI) patented PECOS (Parallel Hybrid Electric Combination of Speeds) parallel hybrid drive system. The PECOS system offers a unique parallel/series hybrid solution utilizing ... Continue reading

KYLE BUSCH - Coaching Kyle

If you are looking for an example of what Kyle Busch has the potential to achieve in his time with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), then look no further than the career of former NFL running back John Riggins. Much like Busch, driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Riggins had high expectations as a first-round ... Continue reading

TONY STEWART Zeroed in on Taking Z-Line Designs to Victory at California

TONY STEWART Zeroed in on Taking Z-Line Designs to Victory at California HUNTERSVILLE, N.C., (Feb. 20, 2008) – Tony Stewart picked up a couple of “firsts” en route to a dominating performance in the season-opening NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway last weekend. He became the f ... Continue reading

TRAVIS KVAPIL, YATES RACING No. 28 Yates Racing Ford Fusion Advance

Travis Kvapil: How was your testing session at Fontana earlier this month? “Testing went pretty well for us. We struggled a bit the first day, but we were able to learn a lot going into the second day of testing. We were able to get good speed out of our car during the final day of testing at Fontana and we left t ... Continue reading

DAVID GILLILAND, YATES RACING No. 38 FreeCreditReport.com Ford Fusion Advance

David Gilliland: How do you feel testing went earlier this month at California Speedway? “I felt really good about our test at Fontana a few weeks ago. We had our cars driving really well in race trim and the car was very comfortable to drive and we had good speed, which I feel are two key ingredients to a solid f ... Continue reading

Roush Fenway Racing California Advance

FAST FACTS <P> David Ragan • Competed in his first race at California in the spring last year and earned a 16th-place finish. • Ragan finished 12th in September’s California event. • Ragan finished a close second in the 2007 NEXTEL Cup Rookie of the Year race to Juan Pablo Montoya. • Ragan has ... Continue reading

JAMIE MCMURRAY SET TO MAKE DEBUT IN NO. 17 CITIFINANCIAL FORD FUSION

Jamie McMurray and Roush Fenway Racing's No. 17 CitiFinancial team are set to have a weekend of firsts at California Speedway. Saturday's Nationwide Series race will mark McMurray's first outing with the No. 17 team and crew chief Drew Blickensderfer. This weekend will also mark CitiFinancial's debut with the No. ... Continue reading

Brad Keselowski - Stater Bros. 300 Preview

KESELOWSKI RETURNS TO CALIFORNIA – Brad Keselowski will return to California Speedway in the No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo this weekend for the first time since his fiery crash at the track last September in the Camping World 300. He is scheduled to compete in Saturday’s NASCAR Nation ... Continue reading

FEDEX RACING EXPRESS FACTS AUTO CLUB 500 - CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY

EXPRESS NOTES: Daytona in the Rear View: Despite leading 32 laps and having one of the field's stronger cars early in the race, damage from a pit road incident on lap 120 eventually sealed the #11 FedEx team's fate and relegated driver Denny Hamlin to a 17th place finish in the 2008 Daytona 500. The damage done to the ... Continue reading

Latest News From Kurt Busch & Miller Lite Dodge Team

Congratulations to Miller Lite Dodge crew chief Pat Tryson for winning the WYPALL Wipers “Crew Chief of the Race” for Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The 2008 WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge is a season-long contest that will determine the best crew chiefs in the NASCAR Sprint ... Continue reading

Speedway Children's Charities Atlanta Chapter To Host Inaugural Clay Shoot...

The Atlanta Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities will host the inaugural Clay Shoot and Barbecue on Thursday, March 6. The event will begin with lunch sponsored by Huckleberry’s and end with an awards ceremony following the shoot. Participants can test their skills with NASCAR drivers, local celebrities a ... Continue reading

Kvapil to Drive No. 09 Zaxby's Ford F-150 at California Speedway

Roush Fenway Racing announced today that 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil will replace Joey Clanton in the No. 09 Zaxby's Ford F-150 for this weekend's Craftsman Truck Series San Bernardino County 200. Kvapil, who has nine wins in 121 Truck Series starts, will take the wheel at a track where he ... Continue reading

PREVIEW: CASEY MEARS (NO. 5 CARQUEST/KELLOGG'S CHEVROLET)

MEARS AT FONTANA: Casey Mears will make his 10th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at California Speedway on Sunday. In his nine previous starts at the track, he has earned two top-10 finishes. His most recent top-10 finish was in 2006. Last year, in his first season with Hendrick Motorsports, Mears led a lap for t ... Continue reading

INDYCAR SERIES NEWS AND NOTES Feb. 19, 2008

1. Helio, Danica on Oprah, Ellen<BR> 2. Andretti Green Racing hires Paul “Ziggy” Harcus<BR> 3. AirTran Airways using Danica look-alikes at LaGuardia<BR> 4. Sherman joins Panther Racing<BR> 5. ... Continue reading

Clint Bowyer, No. 2 Camping World Chevrolet Stater Bros. 300 Preview

NOTES: * This Week’s Camping World Chevrolet at California Speedway … Clint Bowyer will pilot Chassis No. 073 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) stable. Formerly a No. 29 Holiday Inn racer, Jeff Burton won the Camping World 300 presented by RVs.com with this car last Septem ... Continue reading

Clint Bowyer, No. 07 DIRECTV Chevrolet Auto Club 500 Preview

NOTES: * This Week’s DIRECTV Chevrolet at California Speedway … Clint Bowyer will pilot Chassis No. 237 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) stable. Built new for 2008, this is the same DIRECTV Chevrolet Impala SS Bowyer and company tested at California Speedway Jan. 31- Feb ... Continue reading

Matt Kenseth - Auto Club 500 Advance

FAST FACTS * Kenseth, attempting to win the Auto Club 500 for a third-straight year, is the all-time leader in NASCAR wins at California speedway, posting six wins total; four in the Nationwide Series and two in the Sprint Cup Series. * KING OF ROUND TWO: Since 2002, Kenseth has recorded four wins and six top-six finis ... Continue reading

Tony Stewart Racing, Kinser Head West For World of Outlaws Sprint Series Action

With rain winning out in last week’s Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Series event, Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) and driver Kraig Kinser will head west this week for the series’ first California appearance of the year. Kinser and the WoO Sprint Series will return to the lightning-fast 1/3-mile Th ... Continue reading

MOMENTUM BUILDING AT MORGAN LUCAS RACING

More than ever, Morgan Lucas can hardly conceal his excitement about the upcoming 24th annual Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals at Firebird International Raceway. After a great preseason of testing, he exemplified his Lucas Oil team’s notion of being competitive with a No. 4 qualifying position, resetting his ... Continue reading

"FAMILIAR PIPE" ENERGIZES J.R. TODD'S TORCO/LUCAS OIL TEAM

On his Top Fuel performance chart with only two previous starts, Firebird International Raceway hasn’t been one of J.R. Todd’s favorite racetracks with humble beginnings of an DNQ and a first round loss. However, at this year’s Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals, that could all change with the way hi ... Continue reading

Canada Sends Wickens and Morad to Durban

A1 Team Canada welcomes 17-year-old Daniel Morad to its driver line-up this weekend as the team heads to South Africa and the streets of Durban for Round 7 of the 2007-08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th February. Morad will make his debut for Canada in Friday morning's 'Rookie-Only' session befo ... Continue reading

Schatz Makes West Coast Debut in Tony Stewart Racing's Armor All Sprinter

After kicking off the 2008 Sprint Car racing season during Speedweeks in Florida, two-time defending Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz was ready to hit the road and build some momentum behind the wheel of the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) No. 15 Armor All/Chevy/ParkerStore J& ... Continue reading

SIX-TIME INDIANAPOLIS 500 STARTER KARL DIES AT 66

Jerry Karl, a veteran of six Indianapolis 500 starts, died Feb. 16 due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Baltimore. He was 66. Born in Jamaica, N.Y., Karl had resided in York, Pa., for virtually all of his adult life. In recent years, he had operated Karl Aviation at York’s Capital City Airport. ... Continue reading

Eric McClure and Hefty® Brand Notes of Interest

• Last Race (Camping World 300—Daytona International Speedway) o Eric McClure started the Camping World 300 in the 36th position after posting the 3rd fastest practice time on Friday. o However, McClure’s Hefty® Chevrolet began losing power early in the event and eventually suffered engine failure, re ... Continue reading

TEST AT CALIFORNIA PROVIDED ANSWERS, MORE QUESTIONS FOR GORDON FONTANA

Three-time California Speedway winner Jeff Gordon expects a “totally different challenge” this Sunday in the Auto Club 500. Gordon, whose wins occurred in 1997 (inaugural event), 1999 and 2004 at the two-mile track, learned a lot during a test here in the “Car of Tomorrow” (CoT) at the end of Januar ... Continue reading

JASON LEFFLER QUICK FACTS

· Home Sweet Home: A Long Beach, CA native, Jason Leffler will return to the west coast for racing at his home track California Speedway for Saturday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race this weekend. · In (8) career NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at California, Leffler has one pole (2004) and two top-10 f ... Continue reading

Chrysler Mum on Number of Workers Taking Buyout Offers So Far

DETROIT February 19, 2008; Dee-Ann Durbin writing fot the AP reported that Chrysler LLC doesn't plan to announce the number of workers taking its latest buyout offers for several more weeks despite the passing of a deadline for thousands of Detroit-area workers to make a decision, a company spokeswoman said Tuesday. As ... Continue reading

New 500 Abarth debuts at Geneva

The 500 Abarth will make its international public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The new car was developed by Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre in the spirit of the legendary Fiat 500 Abarth of the 1960s. ... Continue reading

The new Volvo XC60 - The safest and most stunning Volvo ever

Volvo's new crossover vehicle boasts an exciting mix of two car styles and steps boldly into what is the motoring world&#8217;s toughest and fastest-growing segment. ... Continue reading

Volvo to Produce its 15 Millionth Car Today - VIDEO GALORE

GOTHENBURG - February 20, 2008: Car number 15,000,000, a convertible Volvo C70, will leave the Volvo Cars factory in Uddevalla, Sweden. The very first Volvo car left the factory on April 14, 1927. It was called the ÖV4 because the letters ÖV are Swedish for "Open Car" and 4 denoted the number of cylinders powering th ... Continue reading

The new Audi A4 Avant: Driving in a new dimension

Dynamic, elegant, and emotional; with the A4 sedan, Audi has already advanced into a new dimension. In a few weeks, the A4 Avant will follow: The most successful premium station wagon of its class offers, along with excellent drivability and uncompromising quality, a higher utility value for sports and recreation. ... Continue reading

KTM to present the production-ready version of the X-Bow

One year after the world premiere of its striking lightweight X-Bow sports car, KTM will reveal the production-ready version of the car, for the first time, at the 78th Geneva Motor Show. ... Continue reading

Alfa 8C Spider, a global preview

Debuting at Geneva showroom is the captivating Alfa 8C Spider. Like the Alfa 8C Competizione, the Gran Turismo which received resounding global praise; the new “discovery” will be produced in a limited edition run of 500. ... Continue reading

CarMax Offers Car Care Tips for Your Battery

CARMAX PROVIDES EXPERT ADVICE ON MAINTAINING YOUR CAR BATTERY RICHMOND, Va., (February 19, 2008)—Replacing a car battery can be a hassle. That’s why CarMax, Inc. , the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, wants you to know how to keep your car battery in top-notch conditi ... Continue reading

Mazda Announces Pricing on Updated MAZDA3; Adds New i Touring Value Model

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 19 -- Offering European sophistication, exhilarating driving performance, advanced technology and best-in-class safety, the MAZDA3 is a leader in the compact sedan segment and continues to be Mazda's best-selling vehicle globally. Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced updated prici ... Continue reading

Subaru Sponsors Flower Shows

- Subaru to sponsor throughout February and March - CHERRY HILL, N.J., Feb. 19 -- Subaru of America, Inc. is to sponsor three flower shows throughout the nation during the months of February and March. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050404/PHSUBARULOGO ) "Subaru's sponsorship of flower shows is a great wa ... Continue reading

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc., Reports Fourth Quarter 2007 Earnings

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.--O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (“O’Reilly” or “the Company”) today announced revenues and earnings for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2007, representing 15 consecutive years of record revenues and earnings and positive comparable store sales increases for O†... Continue reading

A Look Back at the Rinspeed Senso - GREAT VIDEO

More from One of the World's Great Auto Visionaries TACH AUTO CENTRAL - February 20, 2008: For the past week or so automotive Internet sites have been buzzing with the news about the latest concept car to come out of the Rinspeed wonder garage in Switzerland, the sQuba - the world's first underwater "flying car." In fa ... Continue reading

Honda's Swindon plant reaches 2 million milestone

Honda is celebratiing the 2 millionth car from its Swindon car production facility. The silver CR-V is scheduled for production on February 21, 2008, nearly 16 years after car manufacturing began in October 1992. The company announced substantial new investment, showing further commitment to its UK manufacturing operat ... Continue reading